Alonza Barnett III is already giving UCF fans a glimpse of what he thinks this season can look like, and he’s not exactly dialing down the expectations.
After taking part in the 2026 Big 12 Media Days, the Knights’ starting quarterback spent time with the Orlando community at a meet-and-greet, signing autographs and chatting with fans. For Barnett, the event was about more than appearances.
"Its really nice," Barnett told Knights247's Andrew Cherico about the event. "When you put together an event like this, it shows the unity between the athletic programs and not only that, but just the connection between the athletic programs and the community that supports us."
That theme has followed Barnett since he arrived at UCF. He’s repeatedly pointed to the program’s “home-like” feel, and he says the bond inside the building stood out immediately.
"I think, the No. 1 thing for me was the family atmosphere," Barnett said at the Big 12 Media Days. "That's something I value and I care about because you spend long hours in the facility together, so just knowing the people to the left and right of you care not only about you as a player, but as a person, that means the world to me."
The timing matters, too. Barnett is entering his final year of college football, and he gives UCF a level of stability at quarterback the program hasn’t had since John Rhys Plumlee years ago. That alone changes the feel around the offense.
There was some concern during OTAs when Barnett dealt with lingering injuries, but the staff has said it was only precautionary and that the former James Madison standout will be a full-go for fall ball.
Barnett sounds ready to make the most of it.
"I look forward to enjoying each and every game as it’s my last collegiate season…" Barnett said. "Fans can expect a great brand of football, some fireworks here and there and some really consistent play."
That confidence isn’t coming out of nowhere. Last season at James Madison, Barnett helped lead the Dukes to a College Football Playoff berth and delivered in the first-round game. Against Oregon, he threw for 273 yards, ran for 45 more and accounted for three total touchdowns.
James Madison put up 34 points in that matchup, which stands out even more when you consider Oregon held Big 12 champion Texas Tech scoreless in the next round.
Now Barnett brings that dual-threat profile to Orlando, where UCF has a stronger group of pass catchers around him. The backfield should also get a boost from the new one-two punch of Landen Chambers and Duke Watson, since defenses will have to account for Barnett’s legs as well as his arm.
If Barnett is right, the Knights may be in for the kind of season he’s already promised: consistent, explosive, and built on a quarterback who knows exactly what he wants his final college run to look like.
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Dior Johnsons UCF Return Could Change Everything For This Backcourt
Dior Johnson is back in the UCF fold, and the timing makes the move feel especially important for a backcourt that could use a proven scoring punch. After averaging 24 points per game at Tarleton State last season, Johnson returns with a far different profile than the one he had in his first run with the Knights, when he was used in a much smaller role.
What makes this return more intriguing is the way Johnson is talking about it. He is not framing the move around numbers or individual recognition, but around helping UCF win, which fits the kind of addition the Knights needed this offseason. If his production from Tarleton State carries over, UCF may have found a guard who can change the tone of its offense almost immediately. [Read more 🡒]
UCF's Former Backcourt Stars Just Gave Knights Fans Real Hope
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Their best work came in the finale, after both had been working through a Summer League stretch that didnt offer much runway. Kugel finished with six points, two rebounds and a steal, and Fulks added seven points and five assists, enough to remind Knights fans that the backcourt UCF once leaned on still has a chance to make noise at the next level. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Fans Wont Love How These Big 12 Matchups Have Gone
The move to the Big 12 was supposed to give UCF a higher-profile weekly stage, but the Knights have spent the last three seasons learning how unforgiving that jump can be. Since arriving in 2023, they have gone 7-20 in league play, and the results against familiar names and new neighbors have mostly reinforced the same theme: close enough to matter, not quite enough to flip the balance.
Some of the matchups have carried extra baggage because of UCFs old American Athletic Conference ties, while others have become reminders of how steep the climb is against established Big 12 programs. Houston, Cincinnati, BYU, West Virginia, Kansas State, Baylor, Arizona State and Kansas have all offered their own version of the challenge, and the Knights have had only scattered bright spots to point to as they try to build a more competitive footing in the league. [Read more 🡒]